60% of WA men report regularly feeling lonely, survey finds

Washington men reported one of the highest rates of loneliness in the nation, according to a survey by AMFM Mental Health Treatment.

After surveying more than 3,000 men, the report found that 60% of Washington men regularly feel lonely, with long-distance truck drivers, security guards, and software developers among the loneliest professions in the state.

Diving deeper into why men are feeling lonely at such high rates, many of whom feel they don’t have someone to confide in, or, if so, they aren’t having meaningful conversations about their mental state.

One in five men surveyed said that they had nobody they could turn to when feeling lonely.

“Having a single trusted confidant can mean a great deal,” AMFM stated. “It also leaves little backup when that person is unavailable, going through difficulties of their own, or part of the problem someone needs to discuss.”

Meaningful conversations remain elusive for many men surveyed

When respondents tried to express their feelings of loneliness, only 33% reported having a meaningful conversation about how they actually felt within the past week. Expanding the timeline showed that 25% of men hadn’t had an in-depth conversation about their feelings in more than six months or couldn’t recall even having one.

While loneliness can appear anywhere, many respondents said they felt least lonely at work, surrounded by colleagues. Nearly half of men surveyed felt that the workplace was the best remedy for loneliness, so much so that they would stay at work longer than necessary to avoid returning to an empty home.

“That puts a different spin on the colleague who is always last to leave,” AMFM stated. “Sometimes the attraction of the office may be less about what’s on the desk than what isn’t waiting at home.”

In contrast, the study examined how a busy work-life could negatively affect human connection off the clock.

Seventeen percent of respondents cited long working hours, while another 17% felt too tired to socialize after their shift ended.

Remote work and reluctance to seek support add to isolation

For people working remotely, 14% of respondents felt that they worked alone for most of the day. As of 2025, more than 32.6 million Americans worked remotely, according to Neat.

A large deterrent to speaking up and telling someone they feel lonely is avoiding placing a burden on another. Of the more than 3,000 surveyed, 20% cited their hesitation to speak up about loneliness as not wanting to burden them.

“Even asking for support, it seems, can become an exercise in worrying about somebody else,” AMFM wrote.

Washington’s results were sandwiched between its bordering states, with Oregon reporting a substantially higher percentage of male loneliness (73%), while Idaho was slightly lower than Washington with 55%.

AMFM Mental Health Treatment Executive Director Anand Mehta said signs of loneliness can often go unnoticed, and after analyzing the findings, he offered simple methods that can help men feel more connected with others.

“Someone can be reliable at work, present for their family, and still feel they have nobody to talk to about what they’re going through,” he said. “When people are used to you being the one who copes, it can be difficult to tell them you’re struggling. What stands out in these findings is the hesitation around reaching out. Men described not wanting to burden anyone, feeling embarrassed, or believing they should handle things themselves.

“A conversation doesn’t have to begin with a major disclosure. ‘I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected lately — have you got time for a call?’ is a perfectly good place to start,” Mehta added. “If you’re concerned about someone, make the invitation specific. Suggest a walk, a coffee, or a time to catch up, and leave room for an honest answer when you ask how they are. If loneliness persists or starts affecting daily life, a mental health professional can help you work through what’s making connection difficult.”

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